Mirror head assembly

ABSTRACT

A mirror head assembly for mounting adjacent to or at a distance from exterior surfaces of a vehicle. The mirror head assembly includes one or more mirrors that enable a person to view areas surrounding the vehicle that the person could not easily view via a direct line of site. One or more lights are mounted to an outer shell of the mirror head assembly. The outer shell of the mirror head assembly may be constructed with a narrow portion disposed between adjacent mirrors so that the mirror head assembly presents less obstruction to the view of persons in the vehicle of areas surrounding the vehicle.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to mirror mounting assemblies for mountingmirrors adjacent to or at a distance from exterior surfaces of avehicle. It is well known to mount mirrors adjacent to or at a distancefrom exterior surfaces of a vehicle so that individuals may more easilyview in the mirrors areas surrounding the vehicle that they could noteasily see via a direct line of sight. Mirror mounting assemblies ofvehicles generally comprise a mirror head assembly and mirror headmounting components. The mirrors of most mirror mounting assemblies areincluded in the mirror head assembly. The mirror head assembly providesprotection for the mirror(s), which is/are often relatively fragile. Themirror head assembly may also be constructed in a manner such that themirror head assembly has relatively little aerodynamic drag when thevehicle it is attached travels at speeds on roadways. Mirror headassemblies are generally mounted adjacent to or at a distance from theexterior surfaces of the vehicle by the mirror head mounting components,which generally include various members and brackets. Mirror mountingassemblies may have many different designs, which are well known, andwhich include many different constructions of and engagements to oneanother of the mirror head mounting components and the mirror headassembly.

It is fairly well known to mount more than one mirror and also othercomponents to a single mirror mounting assembly of a vehicle. Inaddition to mirror head assemblies, various antennas and lights areoften mounted to the mirror head mounting components of a vehicle.Mounting increasing numbers of separate independent components to themirror head mounting components of a mirror mounting assembly may have anumber of disadvantages. The amount of labor need to assemble the mirrormounting assembly and the components that are mounted to it increases asthe number of separate independent components that are mounted to themirror mounting assembly increases. Components necessary to mount eachseparate independent accessory to mirror mounting assemblies also add tothe cost of the mirror mounting assembly and the vehicle. Theaerodynamic drag of the mirror mounting assembly also generallyincreases as an increasing number of separate independent components aremounted to the mirror mounting assemblies of the vehicle. Each separateindependent accessory that is mounted to the mirror mounting assembliesof a vehicle also obstructs the driver's and the passenger's view of thearea surrounding the vehicle.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

It is thus, an object of the present invention to provide a mirrormounting assembly to which accessories such as antennas and lights maybe mounted and which is relatively easy to assemble, aerodynamicallyefficient, relatively inexpensive, and presents relatively littleviewing obstruction to the driver and passengers of the vehicle. Themirror mounting assembly of the present invention includes mirror headassembly mounting components and a mirror head assembly. The mirror headassembly of the present invention is mounted to the mirror head mountingcomponents which, are, in turn, mounted to the vehicle. The mirror headassembly of the present invention includes a mirror head outer shell.The mirror head assembly also includes one or more mirrors are mountedadjacent the mirror head outer shell of the mirror head assembly. Amajority of the mirror head outer shell is disposed on a side of each ofthe mirrors opposite their reflecting surfaces. The mirror head outershell comprises a shell wall that is substantially continuous and isdisposed primarily on a side of the mirrors of the mirror head assemblyopposite their reflecting surfaces. The mirror head outer shell isconstructed and positioned such that some portion of the shell wall isin line with substantially every portion of the reflecting surfaces ofthe mirrors of the mirror head assembly in directions perpendicular tothe reflecting surfaces. In other words, some portion of the shell wallis disposed near substantially every portion of the peripheries of eachof the mirrors of the mirror head assembly. A portion of the shell wallopposite the reflecting surfaces of the mirrors extends continuously andsubstantially unbroken between these portions of the shell wall disposedadjacent the peripheries of the mirrors. Thus, the mirror head outershell protects the mirrors, with the exception of their reflectingsurfaces, from being impacted by foreign objects. The mirror headassembly of the present invention includes one or more accessories suchas lights or antennas mounted to the mirror head assembly in a positionadjacent the mirror head outer shell. A mirror head assembly that hasone or more accessories mounted directly to it has a number ofadvantages. Such a mirror head assembly provides for a mirror mountingassembly that is cost effective, easy to assemble, presents relativelylittle obstruction to the view of the driver and passengers of thevehicle, and has relatively little aerodynamic drag.

Thus, it can be seen that all of the above mentioned objects of theinvention, as well as other objects not mentioned, have been met.

DRAWINGS

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become more apparentupon perusal of the detailed description thereof and upon inspection ofthe drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a mirror head assembly with a flushmounted light and mirror head mounting components according from a sideof the mirror head assembly opposite the reflecting surfaces of themirrors.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the mirror head assembly and mirror headmounting components of the invention in a direction facing thereflecting surfaces of the mirrors.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a mirror head assembly that does nothave lights mounted to it and mirror head mounting components from aside of the mirror head assembly opposite the reflecting surfaces of themirrors.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a partially assembled mirror headassembly mounted to mirror head mounting components.

FIG. 5 is an elevational view of a mirror head assembly in a directionfacing the reflecting surfaces of the mirrors.

FIG. 6 is an elevational view of the mirror head assembly in a directionparallel to the reflecting surfaces of the mirrors and perpendicular tothe longitudinal axis of the mirror head assembly.

FIG. 7 is a close up perspective view from a first angle of the lightreception recess of the mirror head outer shell.

FIG. 8 is a close up perspective view from a second angle of the lightreception recess of the mirror head outer shell.

FIG. 9 is a sectional view of the mirror head assembly through line 9—9of FIG. 6.

FIG. 10 shows close up views of a section of the light reception recessand a light of the mirror head outer shell through line 9—9 of FIG. 6during different phases of insertion of the light into the lightreception recess.

FIG. 11 is a plan view in the direction of the longitudinal axis of themirror head assembly.

FIG. 12 is a sectional view of the mirror head assembly through line12—12 of FIG. 11.

FIG. 13 is a side elevational view of a vehicle with the mirror headassembly and mirror head mounting components of the present inventionmounted to it.

FIG. 14 is a close up view of a section of the light reception recessand a light of the mirror head outer shell through line 9—9 of FIG. 6.

DETAILS OF INVENTION

The mirror mounting assembly 12 of the present invention includes amirror head assembly 11 and mirror head mounting components 16. Themirror head assembly 11 is mounted to the mirror head mountingcomponents 16 of the mirror mounting assembly 12. The mirror headmounting components 16, are, in turn, mounted to a vehicle 13 such thatthe mirror head assembly 11 is positioned adjacent to or at a distancefrom exterior surfaces 14 of the vehicle 13. The mirror head assembly 11includes one or more mirrors 17 and a mirror head outer shell 15. Thepurpose of the mirrors 17 of the mirror head assembly 11 is to allowindividuals to view, in the mirrors 17, areas surrounding the vehicle 13that they could not easily view via a direct line of sight. The primarypurpose of the mirror head outer shell 15 is protection of the mirrors17 of the mirror head assembly 11. The mirror head outer shell 15 isconstructed and positioned such that a majority of the mirror head outershell 15 is disposed on a side of each of the mirrors 17 opposite areflecting surface 29 of each of the mirrors 17. The mirror head outershell 15 comprises a shell wall 57 that is substantially continuous andis disposed primarily on a side of the mirrors 17 of the mirror headassembly 11 opposite their reflecting surfaces 29. The mirror head outershell 15 is constructed and positioned such that some portion of theshell wall 57 is in line with substantially every portion of thereflecting surfaces 29 of the mirrors 17 of the mirror head assembly 11in directions perpendicular to the reflecting surfaces 29. In otherwords, substantially any line that is perpendicular to and intersects areflecting surface 29 of a mirror 17 also intersects a portion of themirror head outer shell 15 at a point on a side of the mirror 17opposite the reflecting surface 29. Thus, the mirror head outer shell 15protects the mirrors 17 of the mirror head assembly 11 from impacts(with the exception of impacts to the reflecting surface 29 of each ofthe mirrors 17). The mirrors 17, the mirror head outer shell 15, and themirror head mounting components 16 of the mirror mounting assembly 12may be constructed and engaged to one another in any of a number of waysthat are well known. One possible construction and engagement to oneanother of the components of the mirror head assembly 11 and the mirrorhead mounting components 16 is exemplified in the figures. In thisexample, the mirror head mounting components 16 include a c-shapedmirror head mounting member 19 that is pivotally mounted to the vehicle13. Mirror head mounting base components 20 are included in the mirrorhead assembly 11 in the embodiment shown in the figures. The mirror headmounting base components 20 are mounted to the c-shaped mirror headmounting member 19. The mirrors 17 and the mirror head outer shell 15,are, in turn, mounted to the mirror head mounting base components 20.

The mirror head assembly 11 preferably includes one or more lights 18.The lights 18 of the mirror head assembly 11 would be mounted to themirror head assembly 11 adjacent the shell wall 57 of the mirror headouter shell 15. Lights 18 may be mounted adjacent to the mirror headouter shell 15 of the mirror head assembly 11 in any of a number ofways. The lights 18 may be mounted directly to the mirror head outershell 15. The lights 18 may, alternatively, be mounted to othercomponents of the mirror head assembly 11 directly or indirectly. Forinstance, the lights 18 may be mounted adjacent to the shell wall 57 ofthe mirror head outer shell 15 through other components of the mirrorhead assembly 11 to structure such as the mirror head mounting basecomponents 20. Mounting lights 18 to the mirror head assembly 11 asopposed to the mirror head mounting components 16 has a number ofadvantages. Mounting lights 18 to the mirror head assembly 11 isgenerally relatively cost effective because less parts are necessary tomount the lights 18 to the mirror mounting assembly 12 and less labor isgenerally required to assemble the mirror mounting assembly 12. Theaerodynamic drag of a mirror mounting assembly 12 that includes lights18 mounted to the mirror head assembly 11 is relatively lower than amirror mounting assembly 12 that has the lights 18 mounted to the mirrorhead mounting components 16. A mirror mounting assembly 12 with lights18 mounted to the mirror head assembly 11 as opposed to the mirror headmounting components 16 also presents less obstructions to the view ofthe driver and the passengers of the vehicle 13. The lights 18 mountedadjacent to the shell wall 57 of the mirror head outer shell 15 may havemany different purposes. One purpose for the lights 18 mounted to themirror head assembly 11 is as an aid in judging clearance between themirror head assembly 11 and objects in the environment. The lights 18mounted to the mirror head assembly 11 may be of many different types,including but not limited to incandescent lights and light emittingdiodes. Preferably, the lights 18 mounted to the mirror head assembly 11are of the light emitting diode type because they have a much longerservice life than incandescent lights.

The mirror head assembly 11 may be constructed such that the light body59 of one or more of the lights 18 of the mirror head assembly 11 is/aredisposed partially inwardly of the outer surfaces 23 of the mirror headouter shell 15. In order to make this possible, the shell wall 57 of themirror head outer shell 15 would define one or more light receptionopening(s) 60. One or more of the light bodies 59 of the lights 18 maybe disposed within the light reception openings 60 defined by the shellwall 57 of the mirror head outer shell 15. Thus, the light bodies 59 ofthe lights 18 that are disposed in the one or more light receptionopenings 60 protrude relatively little outwardly of the outer surfaces23 of the mirror head outer shell 15. Preferably, the light bodies 59 ofone or more of the lights 18 are positioned such that an outer lenssurface 22 of each of the light bodies 59 is disposed generallycontiguous and flush with outer surfaces 23 of the mirror head outershell 15. It is also preferable that no part of the light body 59, oflights 18 that have their outer lens surface 22 so disposed, protrudesoutwardly of the outer lens surface 22 in directions away from the outersurfaces 23 of the mirror head outer shell 15. A mirror head assembly 11with lights 18 mounted in such a flush manner generally has a betterappearance and is more aerodynamically efficient than a mirror headassembly 11 with lights 18 mounted partially outboard of the outersurfaces 23 of the mirror head outer shell 15. It is also preferablethat any light reception openings 60 of the mirror head outer shell 15and any light bodies 59 of lights 18 mounted within light receptionopenings 60 be of a complimentary shape so that the light receptionopenings 60 are filled by light bodies 59. In other words, it ispreferable that the mirror head assembly 11 be constructed such thatthere are no substantial gaps between adjacent lights 18 disposed withinlight reception openings 60 or between light bodies 59 and adjacentreception opening peripheries 61 of the light reception openings 60. Inthe preferred embodiment, a single light body 59 is disposed within eachof the light reception openings 60 of the mirror head assembly 11. Inthis embodiment, the outer lens surface 22 of each of the light bodies59 is of the same shape and is sized just slightly smaller than thelight reception opening 60 within which the light body 59 is disposed.

In the preferred embodiment, the mirror head outer shell 15 defines alight reception recess 21 inwardly of each of the light receptionopenings 60 of the mirror head outer shell 15. Each light receptionrecess 21 would be defined between recess walls 26 that are a portion ofthe shell wall 57 and extend inwardly of outer surfaces 23 of the mirrorhead outer shell 15. In the preferred embodiment, each of the lightbodies 59 of the lights 18 mounted within the light reception openings60 is mounted to the mirror head assembly 11 via engagement of the lightbody 59 to the recess walls 26 of a respective light reception recess21. The engagement of light bodies 59 to the recess walls 26 of arespective light reception recess 21 may be any of a number of designs.

Preferably the engagement of each of the light bodies 59 to the recesswalls 26 of a respective light reception recess 21 is of a snap-fitdesign. A light body 59 and recess walls 26 of a respective lightreception recess 21 that are constructed with such a snap-fit arebrought into engagement with one another by simply inserting the lightbody 59 into the light reception recess 21 to its intended installedposition. FIG. 10 is a sectional view through a light reception recess21 and a light body 59 of the preferred embodiment. FIG. 10 illustratesthe process of inserting a light body 59 that has a snap-fit with therecess walls 26 of a light reception recess 21 and an example of aconstruction of the light body 59 and the recess walls 26 that wouldconstitute a snap-fit. The light body 59 is moved from a point outsidethe light reception recess 21 toward the light reception recess 21. Asthe light body 59 is inserted into the light reception recess 21,camming surfaces 62 of the light body 59 and the recess walls 26eventually abut one another. Once these camming surfaces 62 abut oneanother further insertion of the light body 59 into the light receptionrecess 21 is prevented until the light body 59 and/or the recess walls26 deform elastically. The light body 59 and the recess walls 26 areconstructed such that, at a point of engagement between the cammingsurfaces 62 of the two components the camming surfaces 62 are disposedat a relatively small angle relative to the direction of insertion ofthe light body 59. With a relatively insubstantial urging of the lightbody 59 in the direction of insertion of the light body 59, the cammingsurfaces 62 wedge away from one another as the light body 59 and/or therecess walls 26 deform elastically, allowing further insertion of thelight body 59. The construction of the light body 59 and the recesswalls 26 is such that, as insertion of the light body 59 into the lightreception recess is continued the camming surfaces 62 eventuallycompletely pass each other and no longer engage one another. When thecamming surfaces 62 pass each other completely the light body 59 and therecess walls 26 snap from their elastically deformed state back towardtheir free state. The light body 59 and the recess walls 26 areconstructed such that the camming surfaces 62 completely pass and nolonger engage each other at a point of insertion of the light body 59where the light body 59 is approximately in its intended installedposition. The light body 59 and the recess walls 26 would be constructedwith retention surfaces 63 which are each disposed substantiallyperpendicular to the direction of insertion of the light body 59 intothe light reception recess 21. When the light body 59 is in its intendedinstalled position, the retention surfaces 63 of the light body 59 wouldbe adjacent to the retention surfaces 63 of the recess walls 26. Whenthe light body 59 is so positioned, the retention surfaces 63 of thelight body 59 would be disposed upon a side of the retention surfaces 63of the recess walls 26 in the direction of insertion of the light body59 into the light reception recess 21. Thus, when the light body 59 isin its intended installed position, movement of the light body 59 in adirection opposite the direction of insertion is prevented by abutmentof the retention surfaces 63 of the light body 59 and the retentionsurfaces 63 of the recess walls 26. In the preferred embodiment, snaptabs 64 protrude from the light body 59 in the direction in which thelight body 59 is to be inserted into the light reception recess 21. Asnap head 66 is disposed at a forward end 65 of each of the snap tabs64. Each of the snap heads 66 defines a camming surface 62 on a side ofthe snap head 66 in the direction of insertion of the light body 59 intothe light reception recess 21. The camming surfaces 62 defined upon snapheads 66 disposed upon opposite sides of the light body 59 angle awayfrom each other in a direction opposite the direction of insertion ofthe light body 59 into the light reception recess 21. Each of the snapheads 66 defines a retention surface 63 on a side of the snap head 66opposite the direction of insertion of the light body 59 into the lightreception recess 21. Recess walls 26 on opposite sides of each lightreception recess 21 define camming surfaces 62 that are disposed at arelatively small angle relative to the direction of insertion of thelight body 59 into the light reception recess 21. The camming surfaces62 of the recess walls 26 are disposed such that the camming surfaces 62of the light body 59 will engage the camming surfaces 62 of the recesswalls when the light body 59 is inserted into the light reception recess21. The recess walls 26 define retention surfaces 63 that are disposedsubstantially perpendicular to the direction of insertion of the lightbody 59 into the light reception recess 21. The retention surfaces 63 ofthe recess walls 26 are disposed on a side of the camming surfaces 62 ofthe recess walls 26 in the direction of insertion of the light body 59into the light reception opening 21. When the components are in theirfree state a distance between outermost points 67 of camming surfaces 62on opposite sides of the light body 59 is greater than a distancebetween innermost points 68 of camming surfaces 62 on opposing recesswalls 26. As the light body 59 is inserted into the light receptionrecess 21 the camming surfaces 62 on the snap heads 66 and the cammingsurfaces 62 on the recess walls 26 abut one another. As a result, thesnap tabs 64 and/or recess walls 26 deform elastically away from oneanother as the camming surfaces 62 pass one another. When the light body59 reaches its intended installed position within the light receptionrecess 21 the camming surfaces 62 of the light body 59 pass an inner end69 of the camming surfaces 62 of the recess walls 26. Once the cammingsurfaces 62 of the light body 59 are past the camming surfaces 62 of therecess walls 26, the snap tabs 64 and/or recess walls 26 rebound towardtheir free state. At this point the retention surfaces 63 of the lightbody 59 are disposed adjacent to and on a side of the retention surfaces63 of the recess walls 26 in the direction of insertion of the lightbody 59. Thus, movement of the light body 59 in the direction oppositethe direction of insertion of the light body 59 is prevented by abutmentof the retention surfaces 63 of the light body 59 against the retentionsurfaces of the recess walls 26. The example provided herein of theconstruction of the preferred embodiment is exemplary of one of manydifferent constructions easily imagined by one of ordinary skill in theart of the light body 59 and recess walls 26 which would effect asnap-fit of the components.

Each of the lights 18 mounted to the mirror head assembly 11 has anelectrical connection portion 42 that is electrically connected toelectricity conducting components 43. The electricity conductingcomponents 43 are, in turn, electrically connected to the electricalsystem of the vehicle 13 so that electrical power can be provide to thelights 18 by the electrical system of the vehicle 13. Preferably, pointsof connection 44 between the electrical connection portions 42 of thelights 18 and the electricity conducting components 43 are concealedwithin either a light reception recess 21 or the interior 28 of themirror head assembly 11. In the preferred, embodiment recess walls 26 ofthe light reception recess 21 define one or more electrical connectionopenings 27. The electrical connection portions 42 of the lights 18 orthe electricity conducting components 43 connected to them, may protrudethrough the one or more electrical connection openings 27. Thus, thepoints of connection 44 between the lights 18 and the electricityconducting components 43 may be concealed either within the lightreception recess 21 or the interior 28 of the mirror head assembly 11.As was mentioned earlier, the mirror head assembly may be constructedwith lights 18 mounted with their light bodies 59 outward of the outersurfaces 23 of the mirror head outer shell 15. In such cases, one ormore electrical connection openings 27 may be defined by the mirror headouter shell 15 at points behind lights 18 mounted adjacent the mirrorhead outer shell 15. The electrical connection portions 42 of the lights18 may protrude through these electrical connection openings 27 definedin the mirror head outer shell 15 into the interior 28 of the mirrorhead assembly 15. Thus, the points of connection 44 between the lights18 and the electricity conducting components 43 may be concealed withinthe interior 28 of the mirror head assembly 11. The electricityconducting components 43, preferably extend from the points ofconnection 44 between the electricity conducting components 43 and thelights 18 through the interior 28 of the mirror head assembly 11. Theelectricity conducting components 43 eventually extend out of theinterior 28 of the mirror head assembly 11 through one or more openingsdefined by the mirror head outer shell 15. Concealing the points ofconnection 44 between the electrical connection portion 42 of the lights18 and the electricity conducting components 43 as well as concealing aportion of the electricity conducting components 43 within the mirrorhead assembly has a number of benefits. Concealing these componentswithin the mirror head assembly 11 gives the mirror head assembly 11 anappearance that is generally considered to be more favorable than if thecomponents were not concealed. The lights 18, the electricity conductingcomponents 43, and the connections therebetween are protected fromundesirable features of the environment as a result of concealing thesecomponents within the mirror head assembly 11.

As was mentioned above, the mirror mounting assembly 12 of the presentinvention may include more than one mirror 17. In the preferredembodiment the mirror head assembly 11 includes a first mirror 31 and asecond mirror 32. The first mirror 31 and the second mirror 32 arepositioned such that the reflective surfaces 29 of the first mirror 31and second mirror 32 face in a substantially similar direction. This isso that an individual might be able to simultaneously look at thereflecting surface 29 of both of the mirrors 17. In this preferredembodiment, a longitudinal axis 35 of the mirror head assembly 11 isdisposed substantially in the plane of the reflective surfaces 29 of themirrors 17 and also in a direction such that each of the mirrors 17occupies a different position along the longitudinal axis 35. It isdesirable to enable the driver and passenger of the vehicle 13 to see asmuch of the area surrounding the vehicle 13 as possible. For this reasonit is preferred that components of the mirror head assembly 11 extend aminimal amount in directions perpendicular to the reflecting surfaces 29of each of the mirrors 17 beyond the reflecting surface outer boundary30 of each of the mirrors 17. For this reason, the mirror head outershell 15 of the preferred embodiment defines a narrow waistline portion33 that is positioned between the first mirror 31 and the second mirror32. For purposes of this disclosure a mirror head width 34 is a distancein directions substantially parallel to the reflective surfaces 29 ofthe mirrors 17 and substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis35 of the mirror head assembly 11 between outer points of the mirrorhead assembly 11. In the preferred embodiment, portions of the mirrorhead outer shell 15 constitute the outermost portions of the mirror headassembly 11 in the direction of the mirror head width 34. In such acase, the mirror head width 34 is a distance between outer portions ofthe mirror head outer shell 15. In the preferred embodiment, the mirrorhead width 34 of the narrow waistline portion 33 of the mirror headouter shell 15 is considerably less than the mirror head width 34 of themirror head outer shell 15 at portions adjacent the mirrors 17. In fact,in the preferred embodiment, the narrow waistline 33 of the mirror headouter shell 15 is effected by a waistline groove 36 that is defined bythe mirror head outer shell 15. The waistline groove 36 is a portion ofthe shell wall 57 which is substantially closer to the longitudinal axis35 of the mirror head assembly 11 than other portions of the shell wall57 of the mirror head outer shell 15. In the preferred embodiment, thiswaistline groove 36 extends continuously along the mirror head outershell 15 between its terminal ends 37 that are disposed between thefirst mirror 31 and the second mirror 32 and at points near the plane ofthe reflective surfaces 29 of the mirrors 17. The portion of the mirrorhead outer shell 15 that defines the waistline groove 36 is disposedprimarily upon a side of the mirrors 17 opposite the reflecting surfaces29 of the mirrors 17. This portion of the mirror head outer shell 15that defines the waistline groove 36 and is disposed on a side of themirrors 17 opposite the reflecting surfaces 29 extends a substantialdistance from the mirrors 17 in directions perpendicular to and awayfrom the reflecting surfaces 29. Such a mirror head assembly 11 presentsless obstruction to the view of a driver and passengers of the vehicle13 than would a mirror head assembly 11 that did not have a narrowwaistline portion 33 between the first mirror 31 and the second mirror32. It is also contemplated that the mirror head assembly 11 could havemore than two mirrors 17. Obviously it would be advantageous for such amirror head assembly 11 to define narrow sections between each of themirrors 17 in a manner similar to that of the mirror head assembly 11 ofthe preferred embodiment.

In the preferred embodiment, the mirror head assembly 11 is an “aerostyle” mirror head assembly 11. Such an “aero style” mirror headassembly 11 is constructed with such a shape and is mounted to thevehicle 13 in such a position and orientation that as the vehicle 13travels at speed on roadways, the mirror head assembly 11 presentsrelatively little aerodynamic drag. The shape of the mirror head outershell 15 of the preferred embodiment has a few characteristics that makequalify it as an “aero style” mirror head assembly 11. The mirror headouter shell 15 is constructed in such a manner that the outer surfaces23 of the mirror head outer shell 15 define rear shell portions 38 thatare disposed relatively close to and substantially perpendicular toreflecting surface peripheries 39 of the mirrors 17. The outer surfaces23 of the mirror head outer shell 15 extend from the rear shell portions38, away from the mirrors 17 on a side of the mirrors 17 opposite thereflecting surfaces 29, and meet at forward shell portions 40. Theforward shell portions 40 are a portion of the outer surfaces 23 of themirror head outer shell 15 distant from the rear shell portions 38. Theouter surfaces 23 of the mirror head outer shell 15 curve gently as theyextend from the rear shell portions 38 to the forward shell portions 40.For purposes of this disclosure, a mirror head depth 41 is a distancebetween forward shell portions 40 and rear shell portions 38 of themirror head outer shell 15 in directions generally perpendicular to thereflecting surfaces 29 of the mirrors 17. The mirror head outer shell 15of the preferred embodiment is constructed such that the mirror headassembly 11 has a considerable mirror head depth 41 at a majority ofsections of the mirror head assembly 11. In the preferred embodiment,for a majority of sections of the mirror head assembly 11 through planesperpendicular to the longitudinal axis 35, the mirror head depth 41 isat least ⅓ of a corresponding mirror head width 34 of the section of themirror head assembly 11. The mirror head assembly 11 is preferablymounted to the vehicle 13 with the forward shell portions 40 forward ofthe rearward shell portions 38. As a vehicle 13, that has a mirror headassembly 11 according to the preferred embodiment mounted to it movesforward, an airflow is present past the mirror head outer shell 15. Thisairflow past the mirror head outer shell 15 first contacts the forwardshell portions 40, then travels along the gently curved outer surfaces23 of the mirror head outer shell 15, and eventually reaches and passesthe rear shell portions 38. Because the mirror head assembly 11 of thepreferred embodiment has a relatively large mirror head depth 41 andgently curving outer surfaces 23 of the mirror head outer shell 15, thedirection of the airflow past the mirror head assembly 11 changesrelatively gradually. Thus, a mirror head assembly 11 constructed andmounted to the vehicle 13 according to the preferred embodiment,presents a relatively small aerodynamic drag as the vehicle 13 that themirror head assembly 11 is mounted to travels at speed on roadways.

The mirror head assembly 11 of the present invention may further haveother accessories mounted to it. One accessory that may be mounted tothe mirror head assembly 11 is an antenna 45. The antenna 45 may beconnected through a connection device 46 to a signal receiving and/orgenerating device mounted to the vehicle 13. Dependent partially uponwhat type of signal receiving and/or generating device is connected tothe antenna 45, the connection device 46 may have many different forms.In many cases the connection device 46 would be some sort of cable orwire capable of conducting electricity. The signal receiving and/orgenerating device would receive signals from or send signals to theantenna 45 through the connection device 46. The antenna 45 would beconstructed to receive and/or generate signals through a medium such aselectromagnetic waves. The antenna 45 could potentially be constructedto receive such signals from and/or produce such signals for receptionby a remote signal generating and/or receiving device. One example of asignal receiving and generating device that could be connected to theantenna 45 via the connection device 46 is a citizens band radio. Manyother types of signal receiving and/or generating devices could beconnected to the antenna 45 mounted to the mirror head assembly 11. Inthe preferred embodiment, an antenna base 47 is mounted to the mirrorhead assembly 11 at a point such that the antenna base 47 is disposedwithin the interior 28 of the mirror head assembly 11. A mast 49 of theantenna 45 extends through an antenna opening 48 defined by the mirrorhead outer shell 15 and away from the outer surfaces 23 of the mirrorhead outer shell 15. The mast 49 of the antenna 45 being a portion ofthe antenna 45 the purpose of which is signal reception and/orgeneration as opposed to antenna mounting components 50 the purpose ofwhich is to mount the mast 49 to the mirror head assembly 11. Generally,the mast 49 of antennas 45 has a length that is considerably greaterthan sectional widths of the mast 49 in directions perpendicular to thelength of the mast 49. In the preferred embodiment, the mast 49 is theonly portion of the antenna 45 that extends beyond the outer surfaces 23of the mirror head outer shell 15. In the preferred embodiment, aportion of the connection device 46 that is near the antenna 45 isdisposed within the interior 28 of the mirror head assembly 11. In thisembodiment, the connection device 46 extends from the portion that isnear the antenna 45, through the interior 28 of the mirror head assembly11, and out of the interior 28 of the mirror head assembly 11 through anopening defined by the mirror head outer shell 15.

The mirror head assembly 11 of the present invention may be constructedin one of many different ways and mounted to the vehicle 13 at one ofmany different locations to accommodate viewing of many different areassurrounding the vehicle 13. In the preferred embodiment, the mirrors 17of the mirror head assembly 11 are intended to be used as rear viewmirrors for the vehicle 13 as is well known. Accordingly, the mirrorhead assembly 11 of the preferred embodiment is mounted to the vehicle13 adjacent to or at a distance from exterior surfaces 14 of a door 52of an occupant cabin 51 of the vehicle 13. The mirror head assembly 11is also preferably mounted at a height similar to that of a window 53 ofthe door 52. In this embodiment, the mirror head assembly 11 ispositioned such that the reflecting surfaces of the mirrors 17 face in ageneral direction of a driver of the vehicle 13. In the preferredembodiment the mirror head assembly 11 includes a first mirror 31 thathas a reflecting surface 29 that is generally planar. This first mirror31 is intended for viewing an area behind, to the side of, andrelatively distant from the vehicle 13. In the preferred embodiment, themirror head assembly 11 includes a second mirror 32 that has areflecting surface 29 that is convex. The purpose of the second mirror32 is viewing an area behind, to the side of and relatively close to thevehicle 13. The mirror head assembly 11 may have any of a number ofconstructions and may be positioned in a number of places andorientations relative to the vehicle 13. Thus, the first mirror 31 andthe second mirror 32 may be positioned relative to one another in any ofa number of ways. In the preferred embodiment, the first mirror 31 andthe second mirror 32 are positioned such that their reflecting surfaces29 are substantially parallel to one another and are disposed onevertically above the other. In this embodiment, the longitudinal axis 35of the mirror head assembly 11 is disposed substantially vertically.

In the preferred embodiment, the mirror head assembly 11 may have anumber of other features that are fairly well known. The first mirror 31and the second mirror 32 are both engaged to the mirror head assembly 11in a manner allowing small adjustments of the angle of their reflectingsurfaces 29 relative to the other components of the mirror head assembly11. Some mirror head assemblies 11 may be constructed to allow forremote, power adjustment of the angle of the reflecting surfaces 29 ofthe mirrors 17 relative to the other components of the mirror headassembly 11. Mirror head assemblies 11 constructed to operate in such amanner generally have electric motors connected to the mirrors 17 viaconnecting linkages and connected to operator controls within theoccupant cabin 51 of the vehicle 13. Any known construction of such apower adjustable mirror system could be utilized in the mirror headassembly 11 of the present invention. It is also well known to mountheating elements to mirrors 17 of mirror head assemblies 11 in order todefog or defrost the mirrors 17. Any known type of mirror heating systemcould be included in the mirror head assembly 11 of the presentinvention. In the preferred embodiment, any electricity conductingdevices 43 and/or connection devices 46 that are to be connected to suchdevices as lights 18, antennas 45, electric motors of power mirrors, ormirror heaters are concealed at least partially within the interior ofthe mirror head assembly 11.

There are some components that most vehicles 13 that the mirror headassembly 11 would be mounted to would have. The vehicle 13 would likelyhave a frame 54 that is directly or indirectly engaged to a largepercentage of the components of the vehicle 13 and which would serve tolocate these components relative to one another. The vehicle 13 wouldalso likely have an occupant cabin 51 within which people and or thingsmay reside and be at least partially isolated from undesirable elementsof the environment. The occupant cabin 51 would be engaged to andsupported by the frame 54. The vehicle 13 would likely have a suspensionsystem 55, engaged to the frame 54, for supporting the frame 54 and,thus, other components of the vehicle 13 and for providing a relativelylow resistance to forward motion of the vehicle 13 along the ground. Thevehicle 13 may have a powertrain 56, engaged to the frame 54 and thesuspension system 55, for providing motivation for the vehicle 13. Asmentioned above the vehicle 13 would likely have an electrical system towhich electrical components would be connected in a manner that theycould receive electrical power from the electrical system.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that modifications could bemade to the invention as described without departing from the spirit andscope of the invention and thus the scope of the invention is limitedonly by the following claims.

We claim:
 1. A vehicle, comprising: (a) a frame; (b) an occupant cabinengaged to and supported by said frame; (c) a suspension system, forsupporting said frame, engaged to said frame; (d) an electrical system;(e) a mirror head assembly mounted adjacent to or at a distance fromexterior surfaces of said vehicle by mirror head mounting components;(f) wherein said mirror head assembly comprises a mirror head outershell which comprises a shell wall; (g) wherein said mirror head outershell is mounted directly or indirectly to and derives support from saidmirror head mounting components; (h) wherein said mirror head assemblyfurther comprises one or more mirrors mounted adjacent said mirror headouter shell; (i) wherein said one or more mirrors are engaged directlyor indirectly to and derive support from said mirror head mountingcomponents; (j) wherein some portion of said shell wall of said mirrorhead outer shell is in line with every portion of reflecting surfaces ofsaid one or more mirrors; (k) wherein said mirror head assembly furthercomprises one or more lights that are directly engaged to said mirrorhead outer shell; (l) wherein each of said one or more lights mounted tosaid mirror head assembly is positioned adjacent said mirror head outershell; (m) wherein each of said lights comprises a light body with anouter lens surface that is separate and distinct from said mirror headouter shell; (n) wherein said shell wall of said mirror head outer shelldefines a light reception opening within which one or more of said lightbody(s) of said one or more lights is disposed; and (o) wherein saidouter lens surface, of said light body of said one or more lightsdisposed within said light reception opening, has a same shape as and isslightly smaller than said light reception opening, and said outer lenssurface is contiguous and flush with portions of said mirror head outershell that define said light reception opening.
 2. The vehicle of claim1, wherein: (a) said one or more mirrors mounted adjacent said mirrorhead outer shell comprise a first mirror and a second mirror are mountedto said mirror head assembly; and (b) said mirror head outer shelldefines a narrow waistline portion that is disposed between said firstmirror and said second mirror.
 3. The vehicle of claim 2, wherein: (a)said narrow waistline portion that said mirror head outer shell definesis a waistline groove that has terminal ends; (b) said waistline grooveextends continuously around said mirror head outer shell between itsterminal ends; (c) each of said terminal ends of said waistline grooveis disposed between said first mirror and said second mirror; and (d)some portion of said portion of said mirror head assembly that definessaid waistline groove is disposed on a side of said mirrors oppositesaid reflecting surfaces of said mirrors.
 4. The vehicle of claim 3,wherein: (a) said mirror head outer shell comprises recess walls thatextend inwardly of outer surfaces of said mirror head outer shell andbetween which a light reception recess is defined inwardly of said lightreception opening; and (b) said light body(s) of said lights that aredisposed within said light reception opening are engaged to said recesswalls.
 5. The vehicle of claim 4, wherein: (a) an antenna is mounted tosaid mirror head assembly; (b) a base of said antenna is disposed withinan interior of said mirror head assembly and a mast of said antenna isan only portion of said antenna that protrudes out of said interior ofsaid mirror head assembly through an antenna opening defined by saidmirror head outer shell and away from said outer surface of said mirrorhead outer shell.
 6. The vehicle of claim 5, wherein: (a) said one ormore light bodies of said lights that are engaged to said recess wallsand said recess walls are constructed such that said light bodies andsaid recess walls have a snap-fit with one another.
 7. A vehicle,comprising: (a) a frame; (b) an occupant cabin engaged to and supportedby said frame; (c) a suspension system, for supporting said frame,engaged to said frame; (d) an electrical system; (e) a mirror headassembly mounted adjacent to or at a distance from exterior surfaces ofsaid vehicle by mirror head mounting components; (f) wherein said mirrorhead assembly comprises a mirror head outer shell which comprises ashell wall; (g) wherein said mirror head outer shell is mounted directlyor indirectly to and derives support from said mirror head mountingcomponents; (h) wherein said mirror head assembly further comprises oneor more mirrors mounted adjacent said mirror head outer shell; (i)wherein said one or more mirrors are engaged directly or indirectly toand derive support from said mirror head mounting components; (j)wherein some portion of said shell wall of said mirror head outer shellis in line with every portion of reflecting surfaces of said one or moremirrors; (k) wherein said mirror head assembly further comprises one ormore lights that are directly engaged to said mirror head outer shell;(l) wherein each of said one or more lights mounted to said mirror headassembly is positioned adjacent said mirror head outer shell; (m)wherein each of said lights comprises a light body with an outer lenssurface that is separate and distinct from said mirror head outer shell;(n) wherein said shell wall of said mirror head outer shell defines alight reception opening within which one or more of said light body(s)of said one or more lights is disposed; (o) wherein said outer lenssurface, of said light body of said one or more lights disposed withinsaid light reception opening, has a same shape as and is slightlysmaller than said light reception opening, and said outer lens surfaceis contiguous and flush with portions of said mirror head outer shellthat define said light reception opening; (p) said mirror head outershell comprises recess walls between which a light reception recess isdefined inwardly of said light reception opening; and (q) said lightbody(s) of said lights that are disposed within said light receptionopening are engaged to said recess walls.
 8. A vehicle, comprising: (a)a frame; (b) an occupant cabin engaged to and supported by said frame;(c) a suspension system, for supporting said frame, engaged to saidframe; (d) a mirror head assembly mounted to said vehicle adjacent to orat a distance from exterior surfaces of said vehicle by mirror headmounting components; (e) wherein said mirror head assembly comprises amirror head outer shell which comprises a shell wall; (f) wherein saidmirror head outer shell is mounted directly or indirectly to and derivessupport from said mirror head mounting components; (g) wherein saidmirror head assembly further comprises one or more mirrors mountedadjacent said mirror head outer shell; (h) wherein said one or moremirrors are engaged directly or indirectly to and derive support fromsaid mirror head mounting components; (i) wherein some portion of saidshell wall of said mirror head outer shell is in line with every portionof reflecting surfaces of said one or more mirrors; (j) wherein said oneor more mirrors mounted adjacent said mirror head outer shell comprise afirst mirror and a second mirror mounted to said mirror head assembly;and (k) wherein said mirror head outer shell defines a narrow waistlineportion that is disposed between said first mirror and said secondmirror.
 9. The vehicle of claim 8, wherein: (a) said narrow waistlineportion that said mirror head outer shell defines is a waistline groovethat has terminal ends; (b) said waistline groove extends continuouslyaround said mirror head outer shell between its terminal ends; (c) eachof said terminal ends of said waistline groove is disposed between saidfirst mirror and said second mirror; and (d) some portion of saidportion of said mirror head assembly that defines said waistline grooveis disposed on a side of said mirrors opposite said reflecting surfacesof said mirrors.
 10. The vehicle of claim 9, wherein: (a) said vehiclefurther comprises an electrical system; (b) one or more lights aremounted directly to said mirror head outer shell of said mirror headassembly; and (c) wherein each of said one or more lights mounted tosaid mirror head assembly is positioned adjacent said mirror head outershell.
 11. The vehicle of claim 10, wherein: (a) said shell wall of saidmirror head outer shell defines a light reception opening within whichone or more light body(s) of said one or more lights is disposed. 12.The vehicle of claim 11, wherein: (a) said outer lens surface, of saidlight body of said one or more lights disposed within said lightreception opening, has a same shape as and is slightly smaller than saidlight reception opening, and said outer lens surface is contiguous andflush with portions of said mirror head outer shell that define saidlight reception opening; and (b) each of said lights comprises a lightbody with an outer lens surface that is separate and distinct from saidmirror head outer shell.
 13. The vehicle of claim 12, wherein: (a) saidmirror head outer shell comprises recess walls that extend inwardly ofouter surfaces of said mirror head outer shell and between which a lightreception recess is defined inwardly of said light reception opening;and (b) said light body(s) of said lights that are disposed within saidlight reception opening are engaged to said recess walls.
 14. Thevehicle of claim 7, wherein: (a) said one or more lights that aremounted to said mirror head outer shell are light emitting diodes. 15.The vehicle of claim 7, wherein: (a) said one or more mirrors mountedadjacent said mirror head outer shell comprise a first mirror and asecond mirror are mounted to said mirror head assembly; and (b) saidmirror head outer shell defines a narrow waistline portion that isdisposed between said first mirror and said second mirror.
 16. Thevehicle of claim 15, wherein: (a) said narrow waistline portion thatsaid mirror head outer shell defines is a waistline groove that hasterminal ends; (b) said waistline groove extends continuously aroundsaid mirror head outer shell between its terminal ends; (c) each of saidterminal ends of said waistline groove is disposed between said firstmirror and said second mirror; and (d) some portion of said portion ofsaid mirror head assembly that defines said waistline groove is disposedon a side of said mirrors opposite said reflecting surfaces of saidmirrors.
 17. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein: (a) Said one or morelights that are mounted to said mirror head outer shell are lightemitting diodes.
 18. The vehicle of claim 10, wherein: (a) said one ormore lights that are mounted to said mirror head outer shell are lightemitting diodes.